CHAPTER XVIII. CAPTAIN CLAYTON'S WIFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2146, 10 April 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XVIII. CAPTAIN CLAYTONS WIFE.

Adelaide Mann krs was waiting on the platform when the four o'clock train reached ftarbfough station on the following afternoon, and when George got out of it she advanced quickly towards him, holding ont a trembling hand, but, even in her excitement, she noticed bow cold his felt to her touch. •I am sorry to pain you,' she said, in a low tone ; but he only made an impatient gesture in reply, and in silence the two walked out of the station, and went on the highroad together. • What is it, Adelaide ?' then George asked, nervously. ' You surely would not have written as you did unless you had ■ome powerful reason ?' 'What more powerful one could I h&v« V answered Adelaide, bitterly, •* than to save my only brother from the toils of one of the vilest women upon «atth ?' 4 What da you jnean I 1I 1 'This, George— look,' and she drew «Dnt the copy of Miss Williams' letter to Sir Hogh ; ' This is from th« woman you thought so highly of —to Hugh Manners.' 'It is not) her handwriting, 1 said

George, sternly, after he rend it. ' What do you mean, Adelaide ? What schemes j are you planning ? Take care what you do, for I shall hear no trifling. 1 • It is no scheme,' replied Adelaide, p-vssiouately. 'It is true— too true— these very words came to him, and I copied them. This is why I sent for you ; but come with me, and you shall Bf c with your own eyes that lam not telling you a lie.' • I will be no spy -no spy on anyone ; and how came this into your hands ? How did you see the original ?' Adelaide blushed a burning crimson all over her face. ' Papa came,' aaid she, after hesitating a moment, ' and told me that a correspondence was being carried on bstweeh thia woman and Hugh. He had seen b letter to her from him ; I would not believe it.' (George gave a kind of Kroah as she spoke.) ' I was even beginning tf> like her"; they said she had been so attentive to Mrs Manners and that poor little girl ; but in the afternoon, after pupa wai gone, they brought in a lettejand gave tt to me. It Was for Hugh, [ who w«« out, and was from Miss Wilf Hams. I knew her handwriting— and— and George. I thought of you— l could not bear you to be any longer deceived ; I opened it', and tuesa here are, the ex^ct word*-' „ •It was a shameful action,' answered George, looking at his sister with the strongest indignation written on his facet 4 A low, mean, vulgar action; I an) ashamed of you Adelaide.' i • It, was for your sake.' • • For mine! Don't lie to roe, girl ;it was because you were jealous of Hugh Manners.' | • And if I were ?' said Adelaide, burst* iqg into pauionate tears, ' what then ? Have I not known him long enough j Haa he not been near enough and dear enough to me? George, you are cruel j very crnel, to taunt me with this V , 4 Hush— don't cry— don't, Adelaide, 1 am sorry if I have vexed you, but befon I would have opened another person' n letter I would have ' i ' I did it. so there's an end to it. Hugh shall never, know ; and, George, you will come ! You will come round by the links and see these false two meet V \ George hesitated. • , •Why should you not?' continued, Adelaide. 'What honour do You ow< ihem ? They have both tricked and de ceived you,' • There is some mystery,' said George, gloomily. ! ' Yea ; and both intend to make a fool of you.' George reddened and bit his Hps. 4lt it an unmanly action,' he said j 4 yet when 1 think how this girl has 'j 4 Pretended she loved you/ put in Ade-J laide. t 4 Yes !' said George, breaking forth suddenly and passionately ; 4 yes— a hun-j dred times — a- hundred times ! Adelaide^ she haa let, mo kits her and hold her to my bosom ; she has lain her cheek against mine. If she is anything to Hughj Manners now, anything to another man,; the is false as hell ?' j , ' Come and «cc,' said Adelaide 3 4 satisfy yourself— and if I have donej wrong, I at least shall have saved my only brother.' George made no answer, and Adelaide,, putting her arm through hit, led him' rather a circuitous walk round the oppo-j site side of the links to that nearest the l tea, and then passing beneath one of the! hillocks, pointed to a little" valley in the, sand banks, where they could sit andi very distinctly see tbe end of the cros-, ei-ig tnrough the links, which Miss Wil-i hams had in her letter indicated as thef spot where she wished Sir Hugh to join) her. j 4 1 saw this place thia morning,' said! Adelaide ; 4 we can wait for them here—! thpy will never see up.' « It is not am honourable post,' said' George bitter'y,'* but for the first and last; time I'll satisfy myself. If she comes I shall nerer see her more. If this is a scheme of yours, Adelaide < ' ' Well V • Then you and I will say a long 1 good-; bye.' I • You shiiU see— perhaps you -will be-; liere roe bef ore — before .looj.' It was a cold biting afternoon, and ; George shivered as be sat. 4 What motiye has she ?' he thought, ' what} possible motive— oxcept perhaps Hugh Manneraiis tired of her, and I, poor rain fool,, was to be the victim. I wan to masrpy -mj , cousin's mistress/ And even Adelaide's heart missyave her as she saw the; ftelce look of mingled passion nnd despair which her brother's strong, features showed as bo sit there, turning his face with restless misery towards the »ea. They did not wait long ; not , more than five minutes had elapsed before a slight, girlish, drooping figure emerged from tbe crossing through the link* which Adelaide was ■watching', and cam* slowly down towards the sands, "" ,' • You see, 1 whispered Adelaide, laying her hand on George's in her excitement : but he flung it back as if her fouoh was hateful 4 1 told you,' she said, with a sort of triumph glittering in her dark eyea ; but the noxt minute her face changed, for she had seen the doll leaden hue which had spread over her brother's, and with some kindness in her Toice she addetf. ■* she -isj not worth grieving for, George/ 4lt is easy to say so,' he answered, turning away his head, and with feelings of overpowering bitterness swelling in bis heart. : 4 There is Hugh,' mid Adelaide faintly, tho next minute, and George onoa more! turned his he«d. • > They were ckHe to them, at least close | enough to see every attitude ; yet neither; Sit Hugh, nor Mi-s Williams on the sands below could possibly see them, so bidden ,w«re they from the sind banks, an.3 it struck Georgp, even iv his misery, that.'it wad cowardly thus to watch them. • I've seen enough, ' he said ; * let ua go homo, Adelaide.' 1 Ob ! stay — stay — a few minutes ; look &ow earnestly she is. asking him to. do something— see, he is taking her hand.' •Come home, 1 said George hoarsely, starting to his feet and ntrtding rapidly away without canting another lodk behind him ; while Adelaide, who would fain hare lingered, reluctantly rose and fol» lowed" him as he went. 'Adelaide,* said George, pausing for her to overtake him, 'let this be & secret between you and me.' • What ! Do you not mean to resent it r • I mean I shall neyor willinglj see her again— yet neither willingly would I take the bread from her lips.' ' ' You mran — you cannot mean you wish her to stay on at Narbrough f* • Fix it yourselves ; as long as sho is here I shall come homo no more ; but I want you to remember alw>, Adelaide, that she w dependent— that whatever she is-—' 1 Let Hugh Manners provide for her, scornfully interrupted Adelaide ; • when I go home to-morrow, I shall tell papa either she or I do not sleep beneath his roof. 1 t , ' Would yon, then, fling her back os her sin ?' said George sternly, 'on her sir or her folly— God knows whioh—bul would you cait a poor weak woman, ou' on the mercy of a heartless world— 01 worne, on that of a heartless man V • S^ to it yourself, then,' said Adelaide sullenly; ' I wa«h my hands of it.' 4 You forget the means you havi used? 1

Adelaide was silent. 'Adelaide,' said George «* a fow minutos, in a different tone, * among this m.in's rn;my wrongs, has ho injured you ?' <Oh ! don't, George— oh 1 don't,' the answered with much emotion. _ j 1 Has he tried to make you love him ?' j went on George, his eyes flashing dangerously as be spoke. ' H-ts he won ydu and fluntr you away — as ho has done otfhera — as he te doing now to that lovely fisher«irl, Peggy Richardson \\ • But Adelaide made no reply to her brother's quest ions; only putting her hand in hi**, as if imploring hiH forbearance. , • Tell me, Adelaide,' Haid, Georgo, earnestly ; ' for your wrongs I can resent;. You have a brother. You are not a poor fiirnrlles^ girl, whose fooling he o.it} exrcite and tr.imple on.' He^shall answer to me, at least for you.' •No, no,' paid Adelaide, 'up, dear George. Think, he is the only, one Qf this family left-r-the only one of thoao who were as brothers to us 4 ; and think, • too, of poor aunt, and Undo. Let me make no quarrel between you.'' • J ' George looked at his 'sinter 1 long' and' silently! and then with some j^tLwttist, he said - ',* „ ,' < 1 You know bestj what ' haS .^«ssed ' be.-; tween you. But,'' Adelaide, i leave, hit' hoii?e at any rate,; you will eurejyjjcave ! hia house !' ><.' \ 'It was fixed that we were to itey until to-morrow,' she answered^ 'would it not be better, if nothing 'is to be'said, at least to remain until then ? In, the meantime may I see papa ? May I urge him to ask Miss Williams to. leave ?' •I will write to her,,' , Baid George, gravely, ' and then she will understand. No, Adelaide, you had better say nothingito my father!' ■ • i • But if she doe* n6t gd ?' ? ' - ' •It will be time enough, then; >and now, Adelaide, good-bye. I have changed my mind, and 'will ndt go hom^ M-day. I will catch the next itKin backi and' let this miserable afternoon ,, be i secret between us. T ' • Oh ! George. lam sorry t to, part with you,' said Adelaide; '.come home or lep me go with you.' . ■ . j i * No, ' and he stooped down .and kissed ■ her oheek, 'no Adelaide. Good-bye, and take care of yourself.' And,' once more shaking her hand, he went on his way ti the station while Actelaid^ returned slowly to the Hall. . In the meantime, Sir Hugh a.nd Misi William* were still talking together on the saiuh. r , They had met with .some embarrass* ment, on the- side-of tlie-ltdy,. at least, and Sir Hugh noticed immediately how greatly changed she was in" appiaranfeel < •I trnst yoirare better?"' he TsaW, with some kindness in^his manner. 'I was truly sorry to learn from your note of yesterday that you Jiad been ill.' 1 1 am better," said Miss Williamjs, looking at hitn'with her sweet and touch-j ing face, ' but I could not come on Friday afternoon, as I first fixed, for on that day I was very ill.' •I thought something must have pre-, vented you coming,' s said .Sir Hugh, ' for: I went, of course, as in dujjy boqnd. By J the-bye,' he added with a sort of laugh, • George Manneri saw the' boy' give me 1 ydur note ; and I Was' sorry for him, poor fellow, for he looked in such a rage.' A deep burning blusli spread otfer Miss 1 Williams' face, as Sir' Hugh said this. " •He saw that . she said, nervously'^ 'Yes 1 , but I said it; w^'s about sotna books 3/ou wanted. Honour among thieves, you know. Miss Williams. **' 'Sir Hugh,' she answered, 'I Tiaye long, very long, wished to' soealr' f to ypii ; ever since the night when you left no doubt in my mind that you had met me before. — — ' <r Aud you really did not recognise me !' asked Sir Hiign\ ; . " ' • No, certainly not ; no, I cannot evett now recall y6WTace v ;"l)ufT.Bupppse ypu know 1 — ' And she hesitated. ' f I snppose it was not » chance guess ♦' 'I have the honour;' said Sir Hugh, with a kind of mock conrtesy in his tohe, •to be speaking to a lady whom I fre-j quently saw — and onfce 1 br- twice met in 1 Calcutta-^als Mrs'Ol&yton.' ' ' ' l! , ' j • What do you knoW of my miserMbJe, story?'" - '- : -' ' L SlfHagh'ahrdggedhisflhoulders. 1 " - , •'Inai»i#4 sad 1 ptece for gossip; kn6iV, MrsiGlayton^'-heisai^. * ITILjU • Hush;r-s*id l'Mrss -WillWm*. - Hjokingj nervously ' roahd^ 'litishf "Sfr Htigfr ; dc] ndt Bre'atWthateftmev 'ir'hibe itk veßy! <oand.' "> "-'- - 1----'1 --'-' " c A -* ' : " ' • 1 J ' i-Yej»,' fchte 'iWfewe<re'd, and brigfit colourAHiieft'h'a* flrfdnea-liei' I fa<«<JuKrigi the t estclte*e l Ht'b^«lf*intervi«ftr ) died ; 'cytnpletelyaway'flS'sfiW'stirtke. J j> - - *• " [ «I- knew him Wfr 'slight^/ BjiKl" l Sir l •Hngfav -• '-< - jJI -' : illl -° 3u '' ' ' ■''Where'ia heumv^-Do-yori 1 kiiow^l never j^»lre t& askf 'It-^onM^Pm*, 3 ! thinfe.^if-I'werfrto'see^hinrtio^ '' u ' ' Sir Htfghlooked'Wt h*r cbHoudy.' IUI j •'WhAt'haTe yon' 'hearcl' of rtief safd >M\*4 William's, noticing' • h\V> expYfesiibn. H'O'ghM Will ycu^kme-lkhe'ttintVr' h • • - ' ljl -*'•' ~ ! • « Why^vive-oHiscatvaals?'"" -] J v ' 1 '-Becaaife 1 f wish -yW liij lttjo^°mAr| story ; to know I-ani'not qmte' WHrfc-'at| least to^ftrtlFydm l Uncled house;. 1 j . ■tWh I jit,,deaivgir|, l'vernp*»bj«x»twn mi Thy wonnT;o you being tnere, though 1 must own I would 8e T sorry if ' , i '■"-ifwWr " ;T; T - ' " u V ' ' 'Well, 1 don't be offen r de6 t ,'butif,o'eDftfe! Mirmets'-^-' -'" - 1 -*- 1 -'-' ''l '^ , "l" l What, pi poor Ge6rtfe? De yqtt'tneaii 1 you -woulrl be sbrry 1 ff George^Matfrie*!, wfere to marry iVief;"- ' ' '^ , Mlva I > u Well— yes:*" .' '- ' ' ■ ' -' • J •it is tirtfi, very 1 natd^ s^iS MiA 1 , Wij-j Hams, tnrriifag awaj> fler'he4d,'whll'e teats rose- in heT^eyts,' ''to' ,be critelly wrttngedas*f ha\-e been." *^ '' „ *■ What ■ was irf said. Sii 5 Hugh: *D 6n J t cry; p^y Miss Williams. * WhSt,^*^ the story of Jhe other 1 wife, far tfio Atnei'litdy ? What.'-itf fach- Wa^S the trutti df tite "sttiry, 'for most -lifefely I'tfont inowit' !' " " ' But irhit J H *htT «"r ofjmn V '-Tly»»iaidr-l»»rtrJ7daMt»Trxi4r 5M a; paeff "of 7505101111(166! ' lies^tffat 'Clayton, who was known, or^t least . suppfj^ed lo' be, a-matned man' sepa»(iiei^ frdnj'trja! wife, when he jointdtnerß^irnenfwent'toi Englandand bronghtbacka-neif '^n3^ery pretty -wife, of; whom haWas- excesf<?ve!pr Jealbuft', «rid 'he 'ttien guve oat^hafc 1 ilfse, fiwt ! wife ww* j Q& itt' lfc^t^t 1 fyptntiated, I belifere-.^Wb ahe-'had be l^', his -wife it all; .^fctt -hire l ' J wa(i - dead,' 1 %& said, and one fine mdrninsr at 1 Oalefctfca'^but, by Jore, I needn't tell you your own B^ory.' "'" • Shall I tell you it, Sit Hugh; shall I tell you the truth ?' said Miss Williams, much agitated, and sitting- down on a piece of rough shingle at her feet,- for 1 she felt as if 'she were unable any longer to stand. • Shall I tell you ft cruel 1 atory, a miserable, guilty tale ?' ' Yes,' said Sir Hugh, f but don't distress yourself, My lips are sealed ; you may trust me ; and had it not been that old George and I are like brothers, you might have treated him as you pleased,' • You need not have been^jifraid ; 'y et how dare FswpitHTYoiT are right, Sir Hugh ; I hate treated your couiin at least foolishly ' 'He is horribly Bpopny on you, yon know.' • I have wrongfd hipq,' a,aid M.U? Williams,' bitterly ; 'but I too 'w.w wronged more cruelly than any man, could be.' \', '"Did you not know afcoat ClaytonV first wife F* 1 Did I not know, Sir Hugh f retorted

Mtss William*, with much indignation, 1 for what do yon take me JP* J Sir Hugh smiled, ' ( ,' People said you knew,' he fluid, ' and — well, that your .marriage was a humbug from begining to end,', , ,' Oh I my God i this i» too inaoh,' oried Miss Willtfttt»<?, rising excitedly. • This in for my weak folly in not proclaiming ray wrong** from one end of India to the' father.' Mrs Ro«s urged me vainly to defend- niyself, but I "was *>6 crusher!, bo utterly crushed, I dnly sought to hide my- ,j ,self for ever. *•'_"' 1 You never , guessed. , Clayton wp s married thefvf' apked , Sic Hugh, wiffi. much interest. , ( • , - $ ' /. How. could I dream of such a- thin?' ? I met him in society— at » military 1 ball firit, and Afterwards he o«ed to' coitq id' We-tport, Wherthfe lived —and ijtitil th^t wretched day, when'tHn't unhappy woman, came, I lookei^upon 1 myselfiliowr oould'l do anything el*e ?— 'as his wife.'i \ ' Ik wfy, a d-r-^piec^ 'pt t Qcp}ipd^y«m. on.;hj«i-padttb.on,?},' , ) „v '-„„ . , !4i,lt! 4 i,It wjajror«e,than if be had tutuddrodi' Imej* s4id ijklis^/ William* 1; i,'. more* omxe , imore JbittA: tban d*ifcb !'[-;• rhJ » ,' / ' I never cared fb"r Jrinrf,' sHictSirf^rgt ;.' 4 bnt ho#'tfaM [ yoa''li.i<re' ( ikp entirety fo -I gdtteh^tS'PfdTie^snre, l-Tia'd \vXf b'eeh l a' t| ftV^BK <|l ft Tr^6lKWtfi wHen t hapnenid. „j . „ , 11/(i f I remeinher, I think, hoarjiig of a, (Mr Hanne« iu,the raiment ;. b.«»*»<ifct \\ n(jt, an, uncommon nan\e, and lAhere,... were flo many officers always about; Biktl' my4and Captain Clayton. .hatod tad ere a ti> speak to any one-*-so I-eo'ahsi never Jiavfe ndtteed you.' ' , , [ ' \Nofc very flatteririg,''S*id' Hugh, half annoyed. ' ' ' ' *!, , , M r " , 'I , remember po^ fe^-on^y,, Q^)tii 1 ' tJpnovan aqd, 'paptau^towrgr *, l^t%nkr - , and'there wns a WTr NorrnVntj^bufcuM* 6/'6 /' .pwetb^.pply^nes l,woujdjk»gfiT *g»io.' , h You,«reren't >verjf. ofteii to- bdi.seejn certainly, except driving 1 or riding' wit t Gl*yboo.-' ' &• ' ■ -•'He waß mad, I- thinks Yes,' and sh > shuddered, ' w^en I think, of thoSeiclay' , I feiel ,gjrdtefu|, even in niy. sljiiiqe, qpfl, d^gradaiibnj'to Tiave escaped l?om 'him for ever.' < t , lit 7 •,', '• 1' ' „ ' Ha, was like a-paa&nian, p«f tainiy, aftet you leift they said. 1 jr - . , | • I know— l f vr as loot so far/away. Dii any one ever gut^s-r-a)month After I left my home I was still in C»louUta — I had one friend' there, Andsne'g'&ve'me'shelfcer ?' «M«sIWP ' ' , " ' < , • Yes: she !)nd Cplonet'Ross'at leas 1 ; bel^avda in v inyj rinsera^le^^to'ry. ' They secreted jne/in. tneir house, 'for. Captain CUyton swore to me that. if 1 left him he would take ray life, andf'itiw^jh not «ftf^ -an hour — I feel eu^eof th*t.- 1 .1 Tbeyßaid he wss in a -frightful way, I remember.' •- 1 *<' r > ■ ' ' I stole oh*. Oh'j I rwnembet-'niyjireai arid' fear in Cbe'd^ad of nigjft. I had Qoni trired fo convey anow'io Mrs Boss, ana she -was waiting to receive me, and the next mprniog— wh^n-rrwi ei , hf,*w oke, J wss gdne^ Apd qh Imj God> one thing I ask,' continued the young lady, covering, her. face j '.one^ prayer | make, that I may never see hit face again.' • But' vai that wornkmreally his Wife ?' *' "Thatr Is Iti That \S the horrtble doubl , and dfead'irbich haunti,;tn6 Jik^ ft nigrhtj mare. He swore; on ;'*vhe ; p/tle c .to;'mc that, she 'jris o^t';' arid" she kn'^lt'.down "'ftpKc^lle^^ojljtp wi^n^'s^htfc'iiihe was. She -produced, pane;?, ,^nd top] $nii likn9w ( ,flpt what; jet h* declared il was not legal. It was I think that she ,if*(s a Romanist and he a Brokestant/ 'ana they had only beeu m'arriwd'ia'ft Ctthofid cb'apftl b'y a priest. But I belieVe the wa* his wifcj, I believed it f atf the ,'time,— I be] Heveitnow. >J '" ' : '" J 4 1' truly pity you,' said Sii Hugb,, I trul^ and really.' < - 7 ( - ' ' Perhkpa I 40 »?t Se^prve rnuej^,' aaidj Amy, Williainß, as w« rm^ still call her, sorrowfully. 'I wronged him ±00; 1 know that now — I married' him without "love.' " ' " . J I You were but like many other girfs, I feur, then.*' ' ' , I I 1 had' -Borne excuse— yea, I had^ some excuse, but I shall go back, if it wilt noli weary you, to whenj I was a girl. I wanlf tp understand how Xwa driven as it were into a marriage which my *ouj .abhorred— -ye*, even tb6n ; l but now — • iiow, when J have Been and knbwn— «-»' i ' Gaorge Manner* ?' slid Sir Hugh, iiv a low voice. ' Miss 'Williams; I truly pityj yon.' J . ■" ' '"' „ ' 1 II - s You have some reason/ said §he^ weeping; 4 biiti I most— most tKat'f havq wronged! tho nobleat — most ,generous| 'hearf; on earfh. Qb. I Sir KjfF^i F oa eaa 1 4 not j judge mo more harshly thin. I'havej judged myself,' . -• . t , L ' You love him then F' ,-, JSiie made him no 1 .answer, bnt hen .whole frame shook with the viblence 0$ ijer emotion. "''l ask yon to for*h-e me,' said Sir) Huph • ' I have judged you wrongfully — 1 JlbeHeve now you really care Jot George,' i ahd he shall never learn your story from me.' '-' '„ . I '1 should tell him, but I cannot-nll cannot. I know too well what would be} jnj -doom —too nrqlj jbow b.e would act.j -,)&ve'n. ii ii» broke, his heart,. I, k»ow he i3«iould,p«riwith me £oreven.' - ! 1 Then what do yow intend to do ?' 1 -•Whar "ido the* weafe • always do, Siij Hugh ? Put ©ffii-proetaaMnAte— fHng toj some vain hope—some evading) shadow-^ atiytiiingi I thinkj 'but never to dee your cousiti more I' .' l^ '*_ j , .' 4 ■ 'I ; can but , reoeat how. ra?jch I feel forj you ; I shall gladly be your friend.' «n 'But -George i^ i jealous about., you already ,'^rtid'M Ha Williams, turning her tear- stained face towards him- with a itabrirnfiiU smile. •He -fancies we were lovers tfnoe, and: he and I hrtve only been, xeconciled fora very short tine.' , ' Poor George !' 1 ""'' Poor "George", indeed ! What evil fate I wonder drove me to this quiet spot ?' ' Our feelings are certainly unaccountable,' paid Sir Hugh. , - * Ye* ; if anyone had told me that hero —.here, where I came for shelter and for -peaee-i-caine, in fact, to hide myself more -efceurely than I thought I oonlft anywhere! npar my old home, that L wonU Vimww — • •ftr theiirßt time in my- life— have felt gaj '^' tfotv f^el, I would have at them! '-a«ima J d.''' " (i , 1 .41. 4 1 tbiak we are all rather m'a'4,'' 'I tliinkl wa? when^-wuen. I married' HughiClnytoq.'. ■ , „ t > 'You were going to tell me abont that.'- ' _ !■ ' ' Ye» ; but you— a man like you, born| in a, di|iP<jrent »£ation -of life will scarcelyj understand the smuggles of, Srtch people, as we were. I remejoiber from my earliest pbfldh^ood our home troubled. It w»b, .alw^j:^ debtiT-always poverty ;, • always striving to keep up, a good appearance to the world ; and so it went on| — roue expenses increasing as my sisters ..grew up und went into society, and niy father's business {he was a solicitor in, Westport) by no means doing 80, JJ u t I need not trouble you with all this ; lust one thing happened, and then another,' and at last poor papa fulled, and our old home was broken up. After this we went to live in a shabby lodging in one of the little fuburba of the town, and, my two' , elder siatora began to look out for situations aa governe a ses. or companions, and,, <if tef some difficulty and delay, »nooeeded, in procuring fchem— iwhiht I whom they considered too, young' 1 to go into tbei world remained with pupa and mamma,' and as we had "still some kind friends left,! 1 {Used tpigo out occasionally, and in spite ~o"f shabby dresses and* glove*, contrived, 1 too, sometimes to be very happy. 'One old friend, a Mrs Pooock, was feneoUUy Wnd. to we, gh« vied tq buy

mo dresses and lytfcs, aud liked to see me look well, and in an ovil hour planned a great treat for me. Sheoffeifid to take me to a military ball at Fordhury, at which place she had a young 1 relation quartered, who had sent her the invitation. r ' j I remember what a flntter of girlish delight and vanity I was in at the prospert, how proud of my new white dress ', and flowers, and how pleised nt all the compliments and attentions were paid to me during the evening 1 . I romotabor t^ie ' very dnnou for which I was introduced to Captain Clayton. He nover scarcely left my side after that, during the whole' night, and young Pocock began' teasing me about my conquest, a* ' he called it, and I heard Mrs Pocock enquiring 1 of him as ro Oipt. Claytons prospects. '''Ob, he was a rich fellow, Clayton— a rich fellow, and a good fellow,' Ji*id /the careless boy ; and pn these idle ray miserable fate I believed turned, and my chapefone invited him befdro we left tho ball-room to viw't her at Weatporfc, arid 'fixed a day for him to 'come and dine' With hertnor*. * '' ''",,'" , |H'o'cam)6 "Very often after this. 'Tie used to. rjde or drive from Ifordburj, rusilf)g r usi1f)g his o;vi;n carriage, and, hor.Hej«, soinstimea tttiee or thrice a weefc, and- all tpjs < ,imj)resfsd Mrs Pooock and. roj, raothdr;' With the d«s"r*bility of *he tnafcUg**' • ll' ■heard of nothing now baft Cftptam. ,Ctay-tou-f-how handsome he was, how rich and how generous ; and 'he {afte4, indeed, to Bbow%rthe mo»t expensive gift* 'both'' on; Mrs Pocock and myself. Btit though ho sometime* attempted very ardent lovemaking, ho uevor, for some tide, at least, made any regular proposal, and both* my ,-niptber -atKJI, Mrs Pocook begaa to groy ,uneaa/'nboufc this. ' ,1 did not th^n m?de^-' i ''tan^,. her I, motive, but presently Mrp Pocook tjegan to encourage her 1 ndphew ' Frti iPocook .to com* frequently te Weßtjport, a'tfd in a very^ shwt timeCaptain Clayton grew' furiously jeAlpus ( of Inis' young boy. ' It was only, however, a little "scheme on Mrs Pofip6k"s part.' * Shfe had' no idea of having a penniless '^irl fojr Jier, niece, or allpwing things to go, so far a^ young Pocook wished. B a t it haa the she desired, and qne day-rpnj> day when I was dining therejfor.Captain Clayton ihad nerer yet been «t our pdor ' i hom«— he asked me to marry him ; and I, half frightened at ' his excitement, scarcely knowing what I said or what I' 1 did, found myself half an hour afterwards being congratulated by Mrp Pocock on my pn^agemen't^and Jhieard them to my consternation qegja to disjQuss together the prospect of my imoied?ate marriage.' 'He had joined the 3rd, then' P' asked Sir Hugh. 'Oh yes * he' had been in Indfa some ' time with the regiment before ihis, but was witKtSe-'flopdrwEon thirst met him. - But- np sooner were we than he began'-to ' fkuVking though both my^ramily and ray fnendi ' were and annoyed'&tthis^a|) there ,was no motive of eobW^iy td be considered, for from'the first been understood that Captain Claytcm, was a rich, man, and, a« far as mpnej w,as cydnjj cernqd, hi. certainly waaa,KenerQ»s-one. But siiU.be < was determined: togo^ and my i family -were too. proud of'iiieitfin^ prize, and too fearful' of lbsinghim,t<> mafte ahy ' objectionß. 't 'shall hav^ fbii aU(x)'my"Bfllf; there^ \faa the'expianatipn he gave ihe,; and with a"shtinktnsr dreadi yhicb perhaps jou cannot yuderBtaudk t, ?aw Jhe preparations, if or niy hateful marriage, progregs.' > Tfrui hwe Miss ,Wil lianas paused, as if completely overcome by ; her painfuLrecollcclaons. . •/ , .. ! ' ' Don'fc tell me any more- for «u While,? ! said Sir Hugh, kindly 1 ; •Lei" us -take ' a a turn by the sea; ybu ddn'HoeJcqnite strong enough it strikes me-, just,- to gar to4 ■with this long story I .' -"' ,' ' ..'„", ; ,''l am, iticfeed, very tifed * /iW,, ah} swei-ed, with a weary a^fh, *b'ut£wi?n you id know -' " , , v f ' A|l in good time, .Suppose we i. walk as. itve., as the old boat there, and tb*n when we come back you can go ori-i* > n - * Very well,' «nid« Miss- Williams ; and. almost in silenoe the two walking slowly together alonV th* sandt Sir Hagh whtstling'and drawing 1 patterlii on it with his stick as he went.. f :' ■' (To be cintiituciT). /( - "" " f